Randy Goodman has managed elite level athletes and their recovery from injuries and performance training for sport for the past 27 years.  Across all sports, he realized there was a continuum to the process and the athlete may enter the continuum at any point of the process.

 

The first step to the continuum is Injury Prevention. After all,  if an injury can be prevented , training time is not lost and the best performance possible can be achieved.  Prevention includes pre-season screening, ensuring protective equipment fits and is functioning and training equipment ( shoes etc.) are in good condition and performing optimally.  It also includes monitoring training loads and recovery to allow the body to heal from intense training or competition sessions.  Sport Specific warm-ups, biomechanical and movement analysis, nutrition, and hydration are also essential.

 

If the athlete is injured, the Acute Injury must be thoroughly understood, diagnosed accurately and managed properly  through the early stage, thus minimizing  recovery time.  If surgery is required, it is imperative to understand the Post-op Care including the procedure, specific challenges, the surgeons’ protocol, and the mechanics of the areas involved in returning to the sport. 

 

This includes an effective pre-op phase so the athlete is in the best shape possible to maximize recovery following surgery.

 

Following an acute injury or surgery and the management of the immediate recovery time, the next phase is Post Op Care and then Recovery.  This involves progressing the athlete through a step wise process to regain Range of Motion and Strength in the injured areas as well as the rest of the anatomical chain ( joints above and below ).  As well, it is significantly important with athletes to look at the entire athlete and use this recovery time to address imbalances in strength or function. This process applies to musculoskeletal injuries, surgeries and even post-concussion recovery.

 

If the athlete lives in the Okanagan, Randy can care for them in the clinic by appointment, but Goodman also offers in-depth Recovery Camps for athletes to visit the Okanagan, reside in a nearby hotel, and immerse themselves in recovery and performance training for 4-6 weeks.

 

Return to Sport is often a missed step in the process of therapists who do not work with athletes on a regular basis.  Each sport places unique demands on the human body, and it is important to understand the biomechanics and the sport specific and position specific  demands the athlete will face when returning to sport.  Goodman Sport Physiotherapy specializes in working with the athlete and coach to train from the clinic to the field of play.  This includes an individual step wise process taking the athlete from “ ready to train” in the clinic…… to on the field, rink, or court to work on sport specific movements and getting the athlete ready to “ compete”.  This begins with foundational movements and progresses to skill training with technical experts such as coaches, skating instructors, etc.  Goodman has access to ice surfaces, fields, and courts to maximize this process.

 

The final step of the continuum is Performance Training. Throughout his career, Goodman is still amazed at the lack of collaboration between the athlete’s coaches, training staff, and the medical staff to put a comprehensive plan together for the athlete.  This includes a pre-season screen to identify issues and prevent any overuse injuries, collaboration on a training plan to work on weaknesses and technical challenges, and maximize training and recovery.  Goodman provides consultation in the process as well as concepts and plans in training elite athletes with a network of highly trained and experienced strength and conditioning professionals. 

 

Regardless of the preparation and prevention, the athlete will suffer an injury at some point in their year, and they enter the continuum at a different point with the goal of returning to performance training as soon as possible.